A large number of Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) applications for overseas nurses (of various countries, although the bulk are from India) have been rejected since January 2023, or they have been subjected to a multitude of “Further Information Required” (FIR) inquiries.
Unreasonable delays and a questionably high rejection rate during the Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) application process since January 2023, affecting over 1000 nurses. These nurses contacted Migrant Nurses Ireland (MNI) to request support in relaying their extremely difficult situation to the relevant authorities.
MNI obtained information that the overall number of atypical visa rejections in 2023 is extremely high– 60% of applications are rejected( only from January-March)These stats exceed the total number of rejections for the full year in 2022.
On 24th April, MNI’s National Convenor, Varghese Joy was interviewed at the Claire Byrne show in the RTE radio. Varghese highlighted the significance of the issue. RTE journalist contacted the Department of Justice and asked for a response in this matter.
• MNI( Varghese Joy, Aiby Thomas & Somy Thomas)had a virtual meeting with overseas nurses panel group on 24th May
Collective petition drafted by the affected nurses along with an online petition form completed and submitted to MNI to request our support and assistance
• Being an organization representing migrant nurses, we are extremely concerned about the current state of affairs. These issues are causing severe difficulties for these nurses, profoundly impacting their employment and, in many cases, their ability to support themselves and their families
.• MNI is concerned as throughout the application procedure, these nurses encountered multiple reasons for rejection, including problems such as metadata clarification, WRC (Workplace Relations Commission) registration, application submission, and third-party credit card payment. Furthermore, the requirements of providing digital Copies of the passport, a digital signature in the contract, and authorization letters have created considerable confusion• In numerous cases, digital scan copies of paperwork have been disallowed for incomprehensible reasons, and applicants have been told to resubmit documentation.
• Moreover, Atypical Working Scheme Unit informed the agents and employer that the timeframe for AWS application has been increased from 20 days to more than 30 working days
• Extension of the timeframe in the processing of the AWS permits significantly impacted the other elements of their nursing registration process. For example, consequently, these nurses are forced to postpone the RCSI Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE ) date to a later date, the validity of the NMBI Decision Letters (DL)get expires, and their IELTS/OET also gets expire, making it difficult for them to come and work in Ireland
• These applicants are therefore either severely impeded or denied the ability to complete their nursing registration process within the specified deadlines.
• MNI (Vinu Kaipilly & Somy Thomas) had a meeting with Minister Roderic O’Gorman on 25th May 2023, informed our concerns regarding the AWS application delays and rejections. Minister requested to submit detailed information and promised that he would contact the relevant departments and try to arrange for a meeting with MNI officials.
• MNI wrote to the Ministers: Taoiseach, Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Minister for Health, minister for Justice, Minister for Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, HSE CEO, INMO and Indian ambassador and requested to address these concerns and we hope it will be addressed immediately and that suitable actions will be taken to rectify them.
MNI requested NMBI to extend the DL and OET/IELTS of the affected nurses.
• MNI contacted media and provided relevant details.
Officials at Migrant Nurses Ireland said they will proceed with further action until the matter is fully resolved.